XAT (Xavier Aptitude Test) registrations have started from 10th July 2025. The XAT registration last date is 5th December 2025. The XAT Exam Date 2026 is 4th January, and it will take place across 109 cities in India. Rs 2000/- is the common XAT registration fee for 2026. To apply for an additional programme at XLRI Jamshedpur, you will have to pay Rs 200/- separately for every management programme. If you’re an Indian candidate applying for the GMP course via GMAT, then it’s mandatory to pay a minimum fee of Rs 2500 during online registration for XAT 2026.
Ensure to upload the correct and transparent documents for smooth registration for XAT 2026. Visit the official website to download the XAT admit card 2026 on 10th December 2025 (expected). Official confirmation regarding the admit card download for the XAT 2026 will appear on the official website. Candidates are advised to download the admit card and carry it on the XAT Exam Date. There are a few more guidelines about the XAT 2025 Registrations and XAT Exam Date 2026, about which we will now be sharing in the upcoming sections of this content for your reference.
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XAT Exam Date 2026: Major Highlights
| XAT Exam Date Particulars | Information |
| XAT Exam Date 2026 | 4th January 2026 |
| XAT Exam Mode | Online (Computer-Based Test) |
| XAT Exam 2026 Total Duration | 3 Hours |
| XAT Exam Timings | 2:00-5:00 PM (Sunday) |
| XAT Exam Centres | 109 |
| XAT Exam 2026 Purpose | Grant admission into full-time residential MBA/PGDM courses at XLRI, 11 XAMI schools or any other 250+ B-schools |
XAT Exam 2026 Important Events
| MBA Entrance Exam | XAT 2026 |
| Full Form | Xavier Aptitude Test |
| Official Conducting Body For XAT | XLRI Jamshedpur |
| Mode Of Exam | Online (Computer-Based Test) |
| XAT Exam Official Website | xatonline.in |
| Total Exam Duration | 180 Minutes – ( Part A: 170 Minutes and Part B: 10 Minutes) |
| Total No. Of Sections | Section A: (Verbal and Logical Ability, Decision Making and Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation) Section B: (General Knowledge) |
| XAT Exam Registration Start Date | 10th July 2025 |
| XAT Exam Registration Last Date | 5th December 2025 |
| XAT Exam Admit Card Download | 20th December 2025 (Tentative) |
| XAT Exam Date 2026 | 04th January 2026 (Sunday) |
| XAT Exam Answer Key Check | 31st January – 31st March 2026 |
| XAT 2026 Result Announcement | 31st January 2026 (Expected) |
| XAT Personal Interview Date 2026 | March to April 2026 |
| XAT Exam Marking Scheme | +1 Every Correct Response- 0.25 Every Wrong Attempt |
| XAT Exam Fee Structure 2026 | Common XAT Registration Fee: Rs 2200 Additional Fee Per XLRI Program: Rs 200 Indian Candidates Applying For GMP via GMAT: Rs 2500 NRI candidates applying for 1 or more management courses through GMAT: Rs 5000 |
How Can I Register For the XAT Exam 2025?
The XAT registration procedure is simple for everyone. Go through the document checklist before you visit the official website to register for the XAT. It’s mandatory to submit a scanned copy of the original documents along with a passport-size photograph and signature. The step-by-step instructions to apply for the XAT Exam online are as follows:
- Step 1: You must open the official platform: xatonline.in to register for the XAT Exam 2026.
- Step 2: Next, you have to click on the “Register” option displayed on the homepage.
- Step 3: Hereby, enter your full name, a valid email address and contact number.
- Step 4: Set a new password with a combination of small letters, capital letters, numbers, symbols, etc.
- Step 5: Check your email/text message for the verification link.
- Step 6: Tap on the verification link to facilitate the online registration procedure.
- Step 7: Enter your academic details (10th and 12th marks, graduation details), category, address proof, work experience, etc.
- Step 8: Select your preferred management programme at XLRI and test centres.
- Step 9: Upload a scanned passport-size photograph, a signature and a valid ID proof.
- Step 10: Attach other mandatory documents.
- Step 11: Carefully review the XAT registration form to ensure all the details are correct.
- Step 12: Check the declaration and give your consent.
- Step 13: Pay the XAT registration fees through debit card/credit card/UPI or net banking.
- Step 14: Lastly, download the application form and keep a soft copy for future reference.
XAT Exam Centres 2026
In 2026, XAT will be conducted in 109 cities. Out of which 34 are new test centres. The XAT exam will take place online on 4th January 2026. You can choose up to 6 different test centres while filling up the XAT registration form 2026. Carefully go through the available options and select the exam centres as per your preferences. Choose the test centre nearby to your current location to report on the XAT Exam Date 2026. In any case, you cannot modify or edit the chosen test centres once you submit the XAT application form online. A detailed list of all the cities that are test centres for the XAT Exam 2026 is addressed below.
- Agra
- Ahmedabad
- Ajmer
- Aligarh
- Allahabad
- Ambala
- Amravati
- Amritsar
- Anantapur
- Arrah
- Aurangabad City (Maharashtra)
- Baddi
- Balasore
- Bareilly
- Bhatinda
- Bhagalpur
- Bhilai Nagar
- Bhopal
- Bhubaneswar
- Bikaner
- Bilaspur
- Bengaluru
- Berhampur
- Chandigarh/Mohali
- Chennai
- Chikkaballapur
- Coimbatore
- Cuttack
- Darbhanga
- Davanagere
- Dehradun
- Delhi-NCR
- Dhanbad
- Dhenkanal
- Dibrugarh
- Durgapur/Asansol
- Ernakulam
- Gandhinagar
- Goa
- Gorakhpur
- Guwahati
- Gwalior
- Haldwani
- Hazaribagh
- Hisar
- Hooghly
- Hubballi (Hubli)
- Hyderabad
- Indore
- Jabalpur
- Jaipur
- Jalandhar
- Jammu
- Jamshedpur
- Jodhpur
- Jorhat
- Kalaburagi (Gulbarga)
- Kalyani
- Kannur
- Kanpur
- Karimnagar
- Kolhapur
- Kolkata
- Kota
- Kottayam
- Kurnool
- Kurukshetra
- Lucknow
- Madurai
- Mangalore
- Mehsana
- Moradabad
- Muzaffarnagar
- Muzaffarpur
- Mumbai
- Mysuru (Mysore)
- Nagpur
- Naharlagun
- Nanded
- Nashik
- Patiala
- Patna
- Pune
- Raipur
- Rajahmundry
- Rajkot
- Ranchi
- Roorkee
- Rourkela
- Salem
- Sambalpur
- Shimla
- Shillong
- Sikar
- Siliguri
- Surat
- Tejpur
- Thiruvananthapuram
- Tiruchirappalli
- Tirupathi
- Tiruvallur
- Udaipur
- Udupi
- Ujjain
- Vadodara
- Varanasi
- Vellore
- Vijayawada
- Visakhapatnam
XAT Exam Date 2026 Guidelines
The final date for the XAT Exam 2026 is 4th January 2026. It will take place from 2:00-5:00 PM. A few important things to remember on the actual exam day are here. Being an XAT aspirant, one must be aware of this bunch of information. These are common instructions that every candidate must follow on the actual XAT Exam Date 2026 to avoid any major inconvenience.
- Avoid carrying electronic devices like smartphones, calculators, earbuds or smartwatches.
- Follow the dress code and don’t wear metal belts.
- Carry a clear and transparent copy of your XAT Admit Card.
- You must have a valid and government-authorised identity proof.
- Sign your admit card for the XAT 2026 in front of the invigilator.
- You must carry a personal water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the exam.
- Don’t wear any jewellery.
- Lastly, arrive an hour before your reporting time to become familiar with the location.
How Can iQuanta Help You With XAT Exam 2026 Preparation?
At iQuanta, we have built a diversified XAT student community with 3.5 Lakh+ members. Secondly, more than 40,000 students who chose us for XAT preparation have made it to their dream B-school. We offer a well-structured strategy, 24*7 doubt-solving, share important formulas, concepts and tricks, and focus on teaching the fundamentals first to our students. Know more about our XAT preparation courses from the pointers mentioned below.
- Watch numerous pre-recorded videos on the QA, DI, VARC and GK after you complete the enrollment.
- Attend live lectures on every topic.
- Practice topic-wise questions across basic, medium, to complex levels.
- Get access to 20+ GK videos, 300+ Quants & DI videos, 100+ Decision-Making videos and 150+ VARC videos
- Special QA modules for candidates who come from a non-mathematical background.
- Similarly, we also provide DI modules, designed specifically for students who are weak in data interpretation.
- Solve 7 full-length mocks, 7 XAT PYQs, and practice more than 4000 questions from the entire syllabus.
- Study GK and Current Affairs with PDF notes.
Final Words
With the official announcement of the XAT Exam Date 2026, it’s time to boost your preparation with a structured roadmap. Register for our XAT preparation courses 2026 and stay ahead of the other competitors. Report timely at your XAT test centre on 4th January 2026 to avoid last-minute tension.
For now, develop a habit of being consistent with your study routine, practice daily assignments and full-length mocks for performance analysis. Furthermore, practice deep meditation and build a positive mindset to crack XAT 2026 with an outstanding percentile and receive an admission letter from XLRI or other notable B-schools that provide admission into an MBA programme after evaluating XAT score 2026.
Click Here to Enrol for XAT 2026 Course
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the XAT Exam Date for 2026?
January 4 is the XAT Exam Date 2026. Go to the XAT official website: xatonline.in to register for the XAT Exam online. Carry essential documents like a valid identity proof, scanned passport-size photograph, signature, 10th and 12th grade certificates, graduation certificate, reservation certificate, etc.
Can XLRI change the XAT Exam Date 2026?
So far, there are no such instances when XLRI has made changes to the XAT Exam Date. However, under rare circumstances, XLRI might make an official announcement about the date change on its official website.
How many times can I appear for the XAT Exam?
A candidate can appear for XAT if they’re fulfilling the eligibility criteria. XLRI has not set any age limit for the XAT Exam and allows candidates to sit for unlimited times who seek admission into their dream B-school to pursue an MBA degree.
What is the exam pattern for XAT 2026?
Major sections of the XAT Exam are Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation, General Knowledge, Verbal and Logical Ability and Decision Making. There is a +1 marking scheme for every correct answer. Every candidate gets 180 minutes to solve the entire question paper of XAT.
Is there any age limit for the XAT Exam 2026?
No, XLRI has not implemented any age limit to appear for the XAT Exam. Candidates from any age group can appear for this competitive entrance exam, given that they have passed their 10th and 12th academics, completed their undergraduate course or equivalent degree from a reputed institute.
